| Fall Down! - article by Joel Hempel
I don’t remember where or when at Valparaiso University I learned this, but it was in the glorious Chapel of the Resurrection that I first began bowing at the name of Jesus during worship. It’s what we did, and it was easy to incorporate this practice into my worship in such a sacred and glorious setting. If you have not seen the Chapel of the Resurrection, you might Google it and look for yourself. Granted, a respectful bow is nothing like what I imagine the Magi did when they came face to face with God Incarnate. I read somewhere that Luther said it would have been a test of their faith for these Kings from the East who had come seeking the King of the Jews to have found him in a modest carpenter’s home. But it must not have been too offensive, for we see them falling to their knees or prostrating themselves (Matt. 2:11) in complete humility before the King of Kings. Why? Because the reason they traveled afar was to worship the Christ (Matt. 2:2). The season of Epiphany shines a light on Jesus, his mission, and his vision for us, his followers. But first and foremost, Epiphany reveals to the world who Jesus is and what the Magi did: They worshipped the Lord! They set aside themselves, their titles, and their accomplishments and fell before Jesus in adoration. What do we learn from the three kings? What does it mean for us to spiritually prostrate ourselves before Jesus? These Wisemen demonstrated what is in order: Realize you are in the presence of the Holy One, the Almighty in human form. God is not the “man upstairs” or the “big guy in the sky.” Those expressions come from individuals who have not yet been blessed to have had a personal experience with Jesus – with the Spirit of Christ, who has wrapped his loving arms around us. Jesus told the woman at the well, “. . . true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). True worship is heartfelt and personal. It is grounded in the Word of Truth and expressed reverently in various ways: In formal worship with all the grandiosity of a Valparaiso processional or a humble two-person gathering in the name of Jesus. It is singing Bach hymns, contemporary praise songs with hands raised, remembering with gratitude one’s countless blessings while walking in the woods, or at home and in your workplace, quietly letting yourself be overwhelmed by God’s grace. However you best worship, we do so with humble appreciation for the ONE who has guided us to the Christ, the Savior who welcomes everyone into his presence. | 
